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Court Gives Indian Casino Regulators More Power2 January 2003TULSA, Oklahoma – As reported by the Associated Press: "An appeals court panel ruling in a Seminole Nation of Oklahoma case has given authorities more power to regulate gambling on American Indian Land. "The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled Tuesday that the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission can temporarily close all of a tribe's casinos even when only a few of the games are determined to be improper. "…`This is a very important decision," said Sheldon Sperling, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The NIGC can't be expected to police tribal gambling without authority to enforce temporary closing orders.' "…`I think it's very dangerous that the chairman is being given this broad authority,' said Seminole Nation attorney Gary S. Pitchlynn. "…In May 2000, the NIGC chairman ordered the tribe to temporarily stop operating certain coin-operated games resembling slot machines, which had been determined impermissible under Indian gaming laws. "…Oklahoma Indian tribes can offer Class II games, such as bingo, pulltabs, lotto, and some card games. The gaming commission had determined that the Seminole's games were impermissible Class III games, like slot machines, roulette and blackjack." |